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April 18, 2024

CT added 4,900 jobs in March; unemployment rate steady at 4.5%

Patrick J. Flaherty Director of Research and Information | Connecticut Department of Labor
By Greg Bordonaro

Connecticut employers added an estimated 4,900 jobs during the month of March, and the state has now gained 13,300 jobs since the start of the year, according to new data from the Department of Labor.

The state’s unemployment rate in March held steady at 4.5%, DOL said. The U.S. unemployment rate is 3.8%.

February’s employment numbers were also revised upward to a gain of 2,600 jobs vs. 1,700 new jobs previously projected.

“This was a strong jobs report that seems to follow the high early-year growth patterns of 2022 and 2023,” said Patrick Flaherty, the state Department of Labor’s economist and director of research. “Connecticut is mirroring the nation with high job growth, however, we expect the pace will slow somewhat as the Federal Reserve continues to address national issues including inflation and interest rates.”

Connecticut's private sector added 4,400 positions in March, and has fully recovered (105.3%) from the April 2020 COVID employment lockdown period. 

The government sector also increased by 500 jobs in March, and is now 84.4% recovered from the COVID employment lockdown period. 

Overall, the state has now recovered 103.6% of jobs lost during the COVID shutdown, according to the DOL.

Meanwhile, total payroll in March was 1,709,100, up by 18,900 jobs from March 2023. Private sector payroll is 1,475,600, up by 16,400 jobs from March 2023.

Employers added an estimated 5,800 jobs in January; 2,600 jobs in February; and 4,900 jobs in March, DOL said.
 
Connecticut’s labor force participation rate is 64.6%, nearly two points higher than the national average of 62.7%. The state currently has about 25,000 unemployment filers, DOL said. 

Eight of the 10 major industry supersectors increased jobs in March 2024, while just one declined.

Sectors that added jobs included:

  • Leisure and Hospitality, +2,100, 1.4%, 156,700
  • Trade, Transportation & Utilities, +1,300, 0.4%, 298,500
  • Educational and Health Services, +1,000, 0.3%, 362,200
  • Construction and Mining, +700, 1.1%, 63,900
  • Manufacturing, +500, 0.3%, 159,100
  • Government, +500, 0.2%, 233,500
  • Other Services, +200, 0.3%, 65,700
  • Financial Activities, +200, 0.2%, 118,700


The industry that lost jobs in March 2024 was:

  • Professional and Business Services, -1,600, -0.7%, 220,800
     

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